Live updates: US renews strikes on Iran as widening war pulls in more countries | CNN
Saudi Arabia is getting pulled further into the Middle East conflict, conducting joint strikes with the US against Iraq this week – despite the kingdom having spent months trying to avoid deeper involvement.
What happened: Washington and Riyadh launched strikes on “logistics and weapons site” in multiple regions of Iraq on Wednesday local time, following attacks by Iran-backed armed groups on US forces and Saudi oil facilities.
At least 20 people were killed and 32 others injured, according to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), the umbrella group for Iran-aligned Iraqi militias that were targeted in the strikes.
Iraq and Iran’s response: Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, according to Iranian state media. Iraq’s recently elected President Nizar Amidi called the attacks “unacceptable and a flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.”
Why Saudi Arabia got involved: In the last week, the kingdom has faced enemies from three directions: missile attacks from the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, drone attacks from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and renewed threats from Tehran.
On top of attacks to Saudi oil infrastructure, the Houthis also announced a blockade of Saudi shipping through a chokepoint in the Red Sea. This is a major escalation for the kingdom, which had re-routed much of its oil exports through Red Sea ports as the Strait of Hormuz remains paralyzed.
Throughout the war between Iran, the US and Israel, the Saudi kingdom had kept open channels of communication with Tehran. But it may be losing patience as it fends off attacks from Iranian-backed proxies, while its economy suffers from the war.
Officials meet: Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met with Vice President JD Vance in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. They discussed the joint strikes, Saudi Arabia’s response to attacks on its infrastructure, and the kingdom’s view on the ongoing war, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The minister also met with President Donald Trump, a source familiar told CNN.